Feed mixing apparatus



P 1932- J. M. FLYNN 1,855,828 v FEED MIXING APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l i n i m vi QQ-QQQ April 26, 1932. FLYNN 1,855,828

FEED MIXING APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOE M. FLYNN, OF BUTLEDGE, ALABAMA FEED MIXING APPARATUS Application filed March 18, 1931.

This invention relates to feed mixingapparatus, and it has for its general object the provision of means for incorporating molasses with chopped or otherwise comminuted rough feed such as bran or fodder so that the molasses is absorbed by the feed in such proportion, and so thoroughly mixed, as toproduce an eventuating dry mixture that can be at once sacked at the discharge end of the mixer without risk of its subsequent fermentation.

A more specific object of the invention is the construction of a mixer including a mixing chamber in which the molasses and rough l5 feed are thoroughly incorporated so as to assume a state of dryness, in conjunction with a discharge conveyor the latter being entirely shut off from the mixing drum during the entire mixing operation so as to prevent unmixed or unthoroughly mixed feed getting into the conveyor and being discharged into the sack where it may give rise to fermentation in the otherwise dry mixture.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a mixing drum in communication with selective sources for delivering molasses to said drum either heated and under pressure, or cold and by gravity.

A further object of the invention is the provision in connection with the mixing drum of a molasses heater, normally steam heated, but with provision for emergency heating, and from which the heated molasses is sprayed into the mixing drum by fluid pressure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dry feed hopper above the mixing drum for charging the latter and to which n hopper the dry feed is supplied preferably U by a blower driven from the same power source as is the mixing apparatus.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred 5 and exemplary embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawings in which the same characters of reference have been used throughout the several figures to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the mixer;

Serial No. 523,538.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is an end elevation on the reverse side, parts being shown in section;

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the side opposite to that shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View of a certain detail of the construction.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, numeral 1 represents a mixing drum preferably of cylindrical construction and suitably supported as for instance upon the legs 2. A shaft 3 passes axially through the mixing drum having pulleys 4 and 5 at its opposite ends and agitating blades or beaters 6 extending radially at intervals along said shaft within said mixing drum.

A trough 7 extends beneath said mixing drum for substantially the entire length thereof in which is located the screw conveyor 8 for discharging the mixed contents of the mixing drum. The screw conveyor is carried in suitable bearings in the opposite ends of the trough 7 and its shaft 9 is provided with a pulley 1O driven from the pulley 5 by the belt 11. Power for driving the mixer is applied to the pulley 4:.

The trough 7 is provided with a sliding door 12' which when closed entirely segregates the trough 7 from the chamber within the mixing drum. In using the mixer it is intended that the sliding door 12 shall be kept closed during the entire mixing operation so as to prevent the moist molasses mixture dropping into the spaces between the helices of the screw where it would of course, be subjected to no further mixing, and as stated, would form a damp nodule or lump in the sack of mixed product, possibly giving rise to subsequent fermentation within the sack.

The trough 7 is provided with a discharge opening 13.

The mixing drum 1 is supplied with ingredients for the mixture by means of a rough feed hopper 1 1 and molasses tanks 15 and 16 which may be selectively used. The rough feed hopper'14 is shown as fitting down upon the casing of the mixing drum 1 and being open at its bottom to said mixing drum. A- sliding door follows the periphery of the mixing drum on the inside and slides beneath the hopper 14, controlling the size of the discharge opening between said hopper and the mixing drum thus controlling the discharge. Said door operates on a track 18 having a rack and pinion connection 18 with a crank 19 extending to the outside of the drum, and by which the door is operated. The rough feed hopper may be supplied with rough feed blown in through the intake 3% leading direct from a hammer-mill or other device in which the feed has been comminuted.

The molasses tank 16 may be supplied with mollasses through a filler neck 20 and is normally heated by means such as the steam coil 21. The tank 16 is also connected to a suitable source of air under pressure by means of the pipe 22 by which means the heated molasses is blown into the drum at its opposite ends by way of conduits 23 and 2%. Said conduits are controlled by valves 25 and terminate at their inner ends in restricted nozzles 26 by means of which the molasses is atomized into a fine spray.

In operation, the molasses may be admitted under pressure during the initial part only of the mixing period or during a substantial A part of that period depending upon the absorptive qualities of the rough feed under treatment. The spray is then cut off by means of the valves 25 either of which may be 0perated if desired in order to reduce the supply of molasses to a single spray.

In the event of the failure of steam for heating the molasses, an emergency bracket 27 is provided in spaced relation beneath the bottom of the tank 16 for receiving any suitable type of burner or source of fire.

Since it may sometimes be desirable to admit molasses or other liquid ingredient to the mixture in cold state, the tank 15 is provided, which may be filled at the top by removing the lid 28. A manifold 29 leads from the bottom of the tank having branches 80, 31, 32 and entering the drum at spaced intervals near the top. A valve 30 controls the discharge from this manifold.

This mixer can be operated in connection with any type of feed mill and grind, mix, sweeten and sack at the same time as it is provided with pulleys by which power may be derived from a single motor which motor may also provide the pressure for spraying the molasses.

It is to be understood that the structural embodiment which I have selected in describing the application of the invention is merely by way of example and not to be considered limited in its bearing upon the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. Molasses feed mixing apparatus comprising a mixing drum, an agitator rotatable on a horizontal axis in said mixing drum a tank for molasses, means for heating said tank, means for admitting the heated contents of said tank under pressure into the upper part of said mixing drum comprising spray nozzles communicating with said tank and entering said drum from opposite sides, said nozzles being directed toward one another, and an agitator rotatable in a horizontal axis in said mixing drum including a shaft and mixing blades lognitudinally spaced on said shaft and extending radially.

2. Molasses feed mixing apparatus comprising a mixing drum, an agitator rotatable on a horizontal axis within said mixing drum,

JOE M. FLYNN. 

